Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has been tipped by ex-Bayern Munich star Mario Basler to join Thiago Alcantara at Liverpool in the January transfer window.
The Premier League champions are active in the market for a center back with defensive stalwart Virgil van Dijk facing a lengthy spell out, after undergoing surgery to repair a serious knee injury sustained during a tackle with Everton’s Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby.
Alaba leaving the Bundesliga is almost a certainty as he has turned down two contract proposals at Allianz Arena, despite efforts by Bayern Munich chiefs to convince him to stay.
The 28-year old’s current deal is expected to expire next summer. However, he can start talking to clubs around Europe about a deal from 1 January 2020.
That has put Liverpool on red alert, as they are one of a few top European clubs keeping tabs on Alaba’s situation. And especially with Joel Matip’s proneness to injury, Jürgen Klopp, who has had to rely on Fabinho as a makeshift center back before his injury, as well as on Academy graduates Nathaniel Phillips 23, and Rhys Williams 19, in the last two matches will be desperate to land a defender over the winter.
Alaba broke through the ranks at Bavaria initially as a left-back but has consistently proven his versatility playing in a multitude of roles, including central midfield, right, and left-wing, and most recently at center defence, following the rise of Canadian youngster Alphonso Davies.
If a deal pulls through and he is able to find enough form to emit the sort of quality he showed in Bayern’s triumphant run to winning the UEFA Champions League last season, then Jürgen Klopp’s center back headaches would have been long gone even before van Dijk recovers from injury.
Liverpool take on Manchester City in the Premier League on Super Sunday, and with van Dijk out, Pep Guardiola’s men, on paper, would seemingly have a significant advantage heading into the game at the Etihad.
Alaba to Liverpool it is then